City Court Information Sheet for Individuals
Charged with Traffic Infractions

This court has received an accusatory instrument (ticket)
alleging that you have committed a traffic infraction. You
are presumed innocent until proven guilty and you have the
right to retain an attorney to represent you now, or at any
stage in these proceedings.

You have various procedural options in the course of bringing
this matter to a just disposition. You may choose to proceed
in any of the following manners, or any other legally authorized
manner. You may want to consult an attorney for guidance or
representation before determining which course of action you
will pursue. The Court may not provide you with a recommendation
as to how you should proceed, or as to which of these or any
other options you should choose.

YOU MAY:

1. Plead Not Guilty

By pleading “Not Guilty” you exercise your right
to a public trial at which the People of the State of New York,
represented by the officer who issued the ticket, must prove, beyond
a reasonable doubt, that you have committed the offense
alleged in the ticket. At the trial you will have the right
to hear, see and challenge the evidence submitted to prove
your guilt including, confronting, by cross-examination, the
Police Officer, or other witnesses who testify against you.
You have the right to have witnesses testify on your behalf
and you may, but are not required to, testify on your own behalf.
After hearing all of the evidence submitted at the trial, the
Judge will determine whether or not the People have proven
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and will render an appropriate
verdict. Please promptly notify the Court if you request
a trial, so that it can be scheduled for a specific date and
time. If you plan to contact the police officer to request
a reduction (see #3 below), this must be done before you schedule
a trial.

2. Plead Guilty as Charged

By pleading “Guilty” you waive your right to
a trial at which the People of the State of New York, represented
by the officer who issued the ticket, must prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that you committed the offense alleged in the accusatory
instrument. A Plea of Guilty will subject you to sentencing
by the Judge to any legally authorized sentence. With the Court’s
permission, you may withdraw your plea of guilty at any time
prior to sentencing and exercise your right to a trial. To
plead guilty as charged and pay the fines, you can send mail
or appear in person at the Plattsburgh City Court Clerk’s
Office at 24 US Oval, Plattsburgh, NY 12903 on or before the
court date shown on your ticket. The Court Clerk’s Office
is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

You may contact the Officer who is responsible for proving
the charge(s) against you to request a reduction of the offense
or to negotiate an agreement to resolve the case in some other
manner. Any proposed agreement is subject to approval by the
Court. If there is a plea of guilty to an agreed-upon offense,
you will be subject to sentencing by the Judge to any sentence
legally authorized to be imposed for the offense(s) to which
you plead guilty.

In the City of Plattsburgh, the prosecutorial office responsible
to prove the charge(s) against you alleged in the ticket(s)
is the police agency that issued the ticket. This is usually
written at the top of the ticket. Tickets written in the City
of Plattsburgh are most often issued by either the City of
Plattsburgh Police Department or the Plattsburgh State University
Police Department. Sometimes a ticket may be issued by a member
of the New York State Police, the Clinton County Sheriff’s
Department, or the New York State Thousand Island Parks Police. Please
contact the police agency directly if you wish to request the
arresting officer’s agreement to a reduction in the charge(s)
or to an alternative disposition. The City Police and University
Police Departments each has a form for this purpose.

If you are requesting a Plea Reduction from the Officer,
please do this before you schedule a trial. You have the
absolute right to a trial, but you should know that in Plattsburgh
City Court, plea reductions are rarely permitted at the time
of trial.